John Holland-Kaye appears before Commons Transport Committee for grilling on 3rd runway problems

Date added: February 7, 2018

Heathrow’s chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, appeared before the Commons Transport Select Committee to give evidence for their inquiry into the proposed 3rd runway (the Airports NPS inquiry). He tried to defend claims that the runway, and 50% more flights, would result in a cut in road traffic connected with the airport. He tried to insist the airport’s pledges on air quality levels would be met if a 3rd runway went ahead. The comments came after Tory MP and committee member Huw Merriman said that a number of airport commitments had “somewhat unravelled”. Heathrow are trying to persuade MPs etc that they have a “triple lock” on the problem of air pollution, and it had a “strong plan” to deal with traffic levels. He blames road vehicles, nothing to do with Heathrow, for local air pollution – and gave confusing evidence about whether Heathrow could, or could not, count the number of vehicle journeys associated with the airport. (If they cannot count them, then cannot confirm they have not increased …). Asked if he could make a “firm commitment” that landing charges would not increase, Mr Holland-Kaye told MPs: “At this stage I couldn’t….” And he blathered when asked by Lilian Greenwood about the financial benefits of Heathrow, if it only reached a 50% increase in flights over 10 – 15 years, not just a few.
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The Heathrow chief said a “strong plan” had been drawn up to deal with traffic levels.

He said: “The issue with air quality is not about the planes, it is about cars on the road.”

Mr Holland-Kaye said expansion of the airport would cut costs for travellers.

He told MPs: “We should also be concerned about the end price passengers pay for their tickets.

“And there is no question that there will be more competition and choice on routes into Heathrow, that the price of passenger tickets will come down.”

The Department for Transport is due to publish final proposals for a third runway at Heathrow in the first half of the year for a vote in Parliament.

If the scheme is approved, the airport will submit a planning application after consulting local communities on detailed proposals.

It hopes to begin construction in early 2021, with the runway completed by the end of 2025.

The third runway was due to cost about £16.8 billion, but Heathrow claims it can complete the project for £14 billion.

Airlines have expressed concerns that landing charges could be hiked to help pay for the investment, but the airport insists that the charges – currently around £22 per passenger – will remain “close to today’s levels”.

Asked if he could make a “firm commitment” that landing charges would not increase, Mr Holland-Kaye told MPs: “At this stage I couldn’t. It would be a mistake at this stage to make any guarantee on particular costs.”